Meteorologists are monitoring the potential development of an East Coast storm that could strengthen into a nor’easter late Sunday into Monday, bringing the possibility of snow, rain and gusty winds to parts of the Northeast — with uncertain impacts for South Central Pennsylvania.
Forecast guidance indicates low pressure is expected to form offshore Sunday somewhere between the Delmarva Peninsula and the Carolinas. The system is projected to intensify as it moves north, and could strengthen rapidly enough to meet the definition of a “bomb cyclone” by early Monday, a term used when a storm’s central pressure drops quickly over a short period of time.
While the overall timing is becoming clearer, the biggest question remains the storm’s eventual track. That will determine how far inland significant precipitation and stronger winds may reach.
Forecasters describe two main possibilities. In one scenario, the low strengthens too late or stays far enough offshore that impacts along the coast are limited, producing only light rain or snow and some gusty winds Sunday into Monday.
In the second scenario, the storm intensifies sooner and tracks closer to the coastline, increasing the threat of heavier snow or rain, stronger winds and possible coastal flooding from the mid-Atlantic into New England, with some effects extending inland.
At this stage, more computer model solutions are leaning toward the storm remaining farther offshore, which would reduce the likelihood of major impacts for interior areas such as South Central Pennsylvania. However, meteorologists caution that small shifts in track can dramatically change the forecast several days out.
For communities in Adams, York, Cumberland and surrounding counties, the current outlook suggests the region could see some light precipitation on the western edge of the system late Sunday or Monday, but the risk of significant snowfall or damaging winds appears low for now. That could change if the storm trends closer to the coast.
Forecasters recommend residents keep an eye on updated predictions through the week, as nor’easters are notoriously difficult to pin down until closer to the event.
Source: The Weather Channel